BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The traditional art of making "Zetie," a kind of woolen fabric, which is also Tibet's intangible cultural heritage, has been inherited and promoted by a professional hand-knitting cooperative in Nedong County, Shannan Prefecture, southeastern Tibet.

    "Ze" is the short form for Zetang County in Shannan and "tie" stands for "Tiema," a kind of pulu, or woolen fabric. "Zetie" in the Tibetan language refers to a unique handmade exquisite woolen fabric produced in Zetang County only.

File photo shows "Zetie," a kind of woolen farbic produced in Tibet's Zetang County only. (Photo: tibet.cn) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Zetie" features the most difficult and complicated craftsmanship and the most delicate materials among all kinds of pulu. It has been very popular among locals for being soft, durable, electricity-resistant, as well as good air permeability.

    The craftsmanship of making "Zetie" is almost 1,000 years old in Tibet. After the death of Songtsen Gampo in 650, one of the virtuous kings of the Tubo Kingdom, his wife Princess Wencheng moved to Shannan, where Tibetan pulu was created and developed. With the development of pulu, the craftsmanship of making "Zetie," a more delicate pulu, was also formed.

File photo shows a Tibetan woman making "Zetie," a kind of woolen farbic produced in Tibet's Zetang County only. (Photo: tibet.cn) Photo Gallery>>>

    Pasang, who is in charge of the cooperative, said that years ago with the aging of the last "Zetie" inheritor Ngawang Tsomo, the art was on the verge of extinction.

    Having learned of this, the cooperative invited Ngawang Tsomo to teach 34 craftsmen at the cooperative the ancient craftsmanship to carry forward the art.

    It was selected as Tibet's intangible cultural heritage last year and an application has been filed for the title of national intangible cultural heritage.